Shower curtain holder

ABSTRACT

A shower curtain holder having a body with a bowed shape and a hook at its upper end which is adapted to engage a shower curtain rod. The holder is placed on the rod inside of the shower curtain. Its size and shape is such that the shower curtain is held away from the person taking the shower. The holder includes a counterweight near or at its top to help in keeping the holder, and thus the curtain as well, away from the person within the shower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When showers are taken in bathtubs, shower curtains are often used toretain the water within the confines of the bathtub. Typically, a showercurtain hangs from a curtain rod located above the shower head. Becauseof the flow of water and air while showering, the shower curtain tendsto swell inwardly, sometimes clinging to the body of the person takingthe shower which most people find unpleasant.

The present invention provides a holder for retaining a shower curtainaway from the person's body during a shower. The invention can alsoprovide a storage area for accessories such as soap trays, bottleholders, and sponge hooks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shower curtain holder comprises a body having a bowed shape and a hookat its upper end which is adapted to engage a shower curtain rod. Theholder is placed on the rod inside of the shower curtain. Its size andshape is such that the shower curtain is held away from the persontaking the shower. The holder includes a counterweight near or at itstop to help in keeping the holder, and thus the curtain as well, awayfrom the person within the shower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a showerholder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the shower holder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of three different types ofcounterweight accessories that may be incorporated into the holder ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shower curtain holder in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention comprises a loop 10 which isconvex when viewed from the side. The loop may be made of any suitablematerial such as metal or plastic. The holder also includes a pair ofspaced apart hooks 12 and 14 which support the loop on the showercurtain. A counterweight 15 is secured to the holder between hooks 12and 14.

A standard shower curtain arrangement is shown in phantom lines in FIG.2. The rod on which the curtain is hung is shown at 16 and the curtainitself at 18. As is conventional, a multiplicity of hooks 20, retainshower curtain 18 on the rod 16.

Also as shown in FIG. 2, the hooks 12 and 14 of the curtain holderengage the shower rod 16. The effect of the holder is to prevent theshower curtain from swelling inwardly against the person's body when theshower is turned on. Counterweight 15 helps to retain the holder in itsdesired position with loop 10 serving to hold curtain 18 away from theperson in the shower.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention employing thesame principle. In this case, the holder 24 is a single integral piecein the shape of a curved paddle, preferably made of a plastic material.The holder 24 has a convex shape from the side, similar to FIG. 2, andincludes a thickened upper section 26 which terminates in a hook 28. Thethickened section 26 functions as a counterweight and holds the portionof the holder 24 which engages the shower curtain 18 away from theperson taking a shower.

In place of the counterweight 15, functional accessories may be used toprovide the counterweight, or additional counterweight. Three differentaccessories are shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, respectively. In FIG. 4, thecounterweight is in the form of a waterproof radio. In FIG. 5, thecounterweight is in the form of a soap tray, and in FIG. 6 thecounterweight provides two hooks on which towels, wash cloths orgarments can be hung. The counterweight can also be an empty tray thathas very little inherent weight but is designed to accommodate whatevercounterweight mass the user chooses to employ, such as water.

The counterweight serves the important function of holding the bowedportion of the holder (and thus the shower curtain as well) away fromthe person taking a shower. The actual weight of the counterweight canvary over wide limits. For example, the counterweight may be between ½and 10 lbs. As indicated in the specification and drawings, thecounterweight can assume many different forms. When configured as atray, the materials placed in the tray (i.e., shampoo, soap, etc.) alsoserve as part of the counterweight. The counterweight must be locatednear the top of the holder and on the surface of the holder facing theuser.

It is contemplated that the shower curtain holder will be approximately18″ wide and 36″ long although obviously the dimensions are not a partof the invention. For packaging and storage purposes, the holder may besold as separate parts in the form of a kit which can be assembled bythe user after purchase. The rods that constitute the bowed portion ofthe holder can also be retracted or removable. They may also vary inlength to be customized to the preference of the user or the dimensionsof the shower.

In another embodiment, the shower curtain holder can be internal orintegral to the curtain 18. The loop 10 is stitched into the curtain 18or embedded between two layers of the curtain 18. Hooks 12, 14, 28 canbe used to secure the curtain 18 to the rod 16 and no additional showercurtain fasteners are required. The counterweight 15, 26 can be exposedor also embedded in the fabric of the curtain 18. Multiple loops/holders10, 24 can be used and spaced to retain the curtain on the rod 16.

While there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodimentthereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions,and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and intheir operation, may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it isexpressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or stepswhich perform substantially the same function, in substantially the sameway, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another arealso fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood thatthe drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they aremerely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to belimited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. A shower curtain holder for holding a shower curtain away from aperson taking a shower, comprising: a body having a bowed shape, a hookat the top of the body for engaging a shower curtain rod, and acounterweight for maintaining the body in a position where a showercurtain that engages the body is held away from a person in the showerwhen the hook engages a shower curtain rod.
 2. A shower curtain holderaccording to claim 1, wherein the body is in the form of an elongatedwire.
 3. A shower curtain holder according to claim 1, wherein theholder is in the form of a paddle.
 4. A shower curtain holder accordingto claim 1, wherein the counterweight is attached to the holder near thetop of the holder.
 5. A shower curtain holder according to claim 4,wherein the counterweight is in the form of a receptacle adapted toretain bathing implements.
 6. A shower curtain holder according to claim1, further comprising a shower curtain integral with the body.
 7. Ashower curtain holder according to claim 6, wherein the hook solelysupports the shower curtain on the shower curtain rod.